En no Gyoja (634–701)

En no Gyoja was a mountain ascetic in the late 7th century, and is revered as the founder of Shugendo.

Shugendo is a religion unique to Japan in which the mountain worship was syncretized or influenced by Buddhism, Onmyodo and so on. The great nature itself is the deity, and Buddha was its manifestation. Their purpose is to save all people by conducting tough ascetic training in sacred mountains to accumulate supernatural power. The Omine Mountain System between Kumano and Yoshino is regarded as the sacred mountains.

En no Gyoja was born in Katsuragi-no-Kami-no-Kori, Yamato Province (now Gose City, Nara Prefecture) and mastered the incantations of Kujaku Myo-o at the age of 17. He went in Mt. Katsuragi to practice tough ascetic training. His clothes were made of the skin of wisteria vines, and he survived by eating nuts. He eventually sensed a deity called Kongo Zao Daigongen in Mt. Kinpu in Yoshino and established the foundation of Shugendo. He is known for his legendary spiritual power with which he ran through fields and mountains, flew in the sky and freely used spiritual beings.

After his death, Esoteric rituals were applied to Shugendo in the late Heian Period [between the late 8th and mid-10th centuries]. Shugendo affiliated with the Shingon Sect was called Tozan branch, whereas that affiliated with the Tendai Sect was called Honzan branch and was taken over by Chisho Daishi Enchin, the restorer of Miidera Temple. Currently, a statue of En no Gyoja is located in front of Gyojado Hall in the precinct of Miidera Temple. Also, Honzan Saito Daigoma-ku Ceremony (a ceremony characteristic of the mountain asceticism) is held every May.